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CNN Saturday Morning News

Interview with Anderson Jones

Aired November 08, 2003 - 09:52   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "ELF")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's your name?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And what can I get you for Christmas?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), don't tell him what you want. He's a liar.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let the kid talk.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You disgust me. How can you live with yourself?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just cool it, Zippy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You sit on a throne of lies.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look, I'm not kidding.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're a fake.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a fake?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How'd you like to be dead?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Does Santa's helper save the day? To find out, you'll have to go see "Elf." It's a new movie featuring Will Ferrell as one of Santa's overgrown helpers. Joining us live from Los Angeles now to talk about "Elf" and other fall films is the movie man, Anderson Jones, of E! Online.

Hi, Anderson, how are you doing this morning?

ANDERSON JONES, E! ONLINE: I'm great. How are you doing? I'm awake. That's a big deal for me.

COLLINS: This is a good thing, especially where you're coming to us from, a little earlier there.

JONES: Sure.

COLLINS: What do people think of this movie? We saw a pretty funny clip, and I've heard some people looking forward to seeing it. What's the reaction?

JONES: You know, I had a great time at this movie. I think it really kicks off the Christmas season. I also think it's an instant classic. Now, that's sort of is a surprise, coming from a guy like Jon Favreau (ph), who directed "Swingers," which is, like, very cynical.

This movie is actually very, very sweet. Will Ferrell plays a human who's raised by Santa's elfs, and then he decides to go to New York City to find his dad and to spread some Christmas cheer.

It really, really works. I had a great time at this movie. And I'm hearing from people that parents are laughing even more than the kids. So this is totally a family experience. And I'm sure it's going to be a classic.

COLLINS: It looks so funny. I love Will Ferrell. (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

JONES: Will Ferrell is hilarious.

COLLINS: Yes, and, you know, it seems like he's really been able to find success at this movie thing. Not all former "Saturday Night Live"-ers have been able to do that.

JONES: That's absolutely true. And you know what it is? Will is completely shameless. He will do anything. He's fearless. And I think that's what kind of carries him over. And I really think he's kind of replaced Jim Carey as, like, everybody's favorite funnyman. I can't get enough of him.

COLLINS: All right. Well, again, it looks pretty funny. I would probably see that one. Want to move on, though, to "The Matrix," the trilogy here. What do you think? Does it live up to -- I guess everybody's probably comparing it to the first one.

JONES: Sure. Well, this is really the only bummer this weekend is that "The Matrix Revolution" doesn't work.

COLLINS: Uh-oh.

JONES: Unfortunately, it doesn't deliver on some of the promises that were set up in the second movie or even in "The Matrix," and it ends up just being a really good B sci-fiction movie, and that's kind of it. It doesn't really seem to have any connection to the other two movies.

And Warner Brothers, you know, has made more than $40 million already on this movie. It opened on Wednesday, around the world, actually. But I think -- and they say that they wanted to combat piracy. But I think they wanted to combat bad word of mouth.

COLLINS: Uh-oh.

JONES: I think they were concerned that people in the U.S. would talk bad about it, and then by the time got to Germany, Japan, and London, no one would want to see it.

It really didn't work for me, and it's kind of disappointing, because I was a huge fan of "The Matrix" and of "Matrix Reloaded."

COLLINS: Well, that's too bad.

JONES: There are some nice bells and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- there are nice bells and whistles, but there's no real payoff.

COLLINS: Well, let's talk about that for just a minute. I mean, we're looking at some of these clips. And, you know, the -- always the special effects are something to talk about. But is it worth it to go see for that reason alone?

JONES: No, it's not, I don't think. You know, the -- as I said, there are some very nice bells and whistles, some stuntman fight from being on top of the ceiling, so they're fighting upside down.

There's one great scene, obviously the climatic fight between Neo and Agent Smith, that takes place in the sky. They're, like, having this superhero battle. And in fact, they had to close down Sydney airspace for a few days in order for helicopters to kind of film this -- to film the scene, so they could get it into the computer.

But, you know, by the time you get to that point, you're not really interested. There's a very -- there's a really great action scene right in the middle, when these sort of sentinels reach the city of Zion, where the last humans are living. There's a great firefight. But after that, you're sort of exhausted. The rest of the movie doesn't matter.

COLLINS: It's always raining, it seems like, in this movie too.

JONES: Well, you know, you know what? What rain does is, it hides special effects.

COLLINS: Ah.

JONES: It hides things that might be CGI and it hides wires. It's a very effective trick that special effects guys use.

COLLINS: I didn't know that.

JONES: Rain and darkness.

COLLINS: OK, rain and darkness.

JONES: Rain and darkness.

COLLINS: And we're looking at a lot of that right there.

Let's move on, if we could, Anderson. "Love Actually." This has just a blockbuster cast, doesn't it?

JONES: Oh, the cast, please. It's everyone from Hugh Grant to Billy Bob Thornton to Emma Thompson to Liam Neeson. I mean, the cast goes on and on and on.

This is a movie, as you know, from Richard Curtis (ph), who wrote "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Notting Hill," which is one of my favorites. This is the first movie actually he's written and directed.

There are many characters, about 20 different characters, who all have love lifes that sort of intersect. And if you've ever been in love, if you've been lovesick, if you had unrequited love, which is I'm an expert at, this movie is going to resonate with you.

It is very sweet and sappy. And, you know, some people will hate it for that. But I have to say, give me that cavity, I'll take it, bring it on, I dare you.

COLLINS: So quick...

JONES: You have to have a heart of stone to walk out of this movie without being moved.

COLLINS: Oh, boy. So not just a chick flick. I mean, this might be a date movie, huh?

JONES: I think it's a really good date movie. You know, guys know what love, being lovesick is about, and there are a lot of guys in this movie who are just as lovesick and don't always get the girl, as ultimately we guys do in real life.

COLLINS: All right, Anderson Jones, we appreciate your time this morning, giving (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

JONES: It's my pleasure. Thank you for having me.

COLLINS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) a few movies. You bet. Of course, another one that's out there, "Master and Commander," but we'll have to let folks decide on that one on their own.

JONES: Well, it's fantastic, I can say that much.

COLLINS: Really? All right. Well, we'll talk about that one...

JONES: Yes, it's really spectacular.

COLLINS: ... next time around, hopefully.

JONES: I would love it.

COLLINS: Anderson, thanks again. Have a great day.

JONES: Sure thing. You too.

COLLINS: He leaves us with that tease. I'm still stuck on that elf life, "You sit on a throne of lies." It's very effective.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired November 8, 2003 - 09:52   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "ELF")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's your name?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And what can I get you for Christmas?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), don't tell him what you want. He's a liar.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let the kid talk.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You disgust me. How can you live with yourself?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just cool it, Zippy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You sit on a throne of lies.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look, I'm not kidding.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're a fake.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a fake?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How'd you like to be dead?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Does Santa's helper save the day? To find out, you'll have to go see "Elf." It's a new movie featuring Will Ferrell as one of Santa's overgrown helpers. Joining us live from Los Angeles now to talk about "Elf" and other fall films is the movie man, Anderson Jones, of E! Online.

Hi, Anderson, how are you doing this morning?

ANDERSON JONES, E! ONLINE: I'm great. How are you doing? I'm awake. That's a big deal for me.

COLLINS: This is a good thing, especially where you're coming to us from, a little earlier there.

JONES: Sure.

COLLINS: What do people think of this movie? We saw a pretty funny clip, and I've heard some people looking forward to seeing it. What's the reaction?

JONES: You know, I had a great time at this movie. I think it really kicks off the Christmas season. I also think it's an instant classic. Now, that's sort of is a surprise, coming from a guy like Jon Favreau (ph), who directed "Swingers," which is, like, very cynical.

This movie is actually very, very sweet. Will Ferrell plays a human who's raised by Santa's elfs, and then he decides to go to New York City to find his dad and to spread some Christmas cheer.

It really, really works. I had a great time at this movie. And I'm hearing from people that parents are laughing even more than the kids. So this is totally a family experience. And I'm sure it's going to be a classic.

COLLINS: It looks so funny. I love Will Ferrell. (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

JONES: Will Ferrell is hilarious.

COLLINS: Yes, and, you know, it seems like he's really been able to find success at this movie thing. Not all former "Saturday Night Live"-ers have been able to do that.

JONES: That's absolutely true. And you know what it is? Will is completely shameless. He will do anything. He's fearless. And I think that's what kind of carries him over. And I really think he's kind of replaced Jim Carey as, like, everybody's favorite funnyman. I can't get enough of him.

COLLINS: All right. Well, again, it looks pretty funny. I would probably see that one. Want to move on, though, to "The Matrix," the trilogy here. What do you think? Does it live up to -- I guess everybody's probably comparing it to the first one.

JONES: Sure. Well, this is really the only bummer this weekend is that "The Matrix Revolution" doesn't work.

COLLINS: Uh-oh.

JONES: Unfortunately, it doesn't deliver on some of the promises that were set up in the second movie or even in "The Matrix," and it ends up just being a really good B sci-fiction movie, and that's kind of it. It doesn't really seem to have any connection to the other two movies.

And Warner Brothers, you know, has made more than $40 million already on this movie. It opened on Wednesday, around the world, actually. But I think -- and they say that they wanted to combat piracy. But I think they wanted to combat bad word of mouth.

COLLINS: Uh-oh.

JONES: I think they were concerned that people in the U.S. would talk bad about it, and then by the time got to Germany, Japan, and London, no one would want to see it.

It really didn't work for me, and it's kind of disappointing, because I was a huge fan of "The Matrix" and of "Matrix Reloaded."

COLLINS: Well, that's too bad.

JONES: There are some nice bells and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- there are nice bells and whistles, but there's no real payoff.

COLLINS: Well, let's talk about that for just a minute. I mean, we're looking at some of these clips. And, you know, the -- always the special effects are something to talk about. But is it worth it to go see for that reason alone?

JONES: No, it's not, I don't think. You know, the -- as I said, there are some very nice bells and whistles, some stuntman fight from being on top of the ceiling, so they're fighting upside down.

There's one great scene, obviously the climatic fight between Neo and Agent Smith, that takes place in the sky. They're, like, having this superhero battle. And in fact, they had to close down Sydney airspace for a few days in order for helicopters to kind of film this -- to film the scene, so they could get it into the computer.

But, you know, by the time you get to that point, you're not really interested. There's a very -- there's a really great action scene right in the middle, when these sort of sentinels reach the city of Zion, where the last humans are living. There's a great firefight. But after that, you're sort of exhausted. The rest of the movie doesn't matter.

COLLINS: It's always raining, it seems like, in this movie too.

JONES: Well, you know, you know what? What rain does is, it hides special effects.

COLLINS: Ah.

JONES: It hides things that might be CGI and it hides wires. It's a very effective trick that special effects guys use.

COLLINS: I didn't know that.

JONES: Rain and darkness.

COLLINS: OK, rain and darkness.

JONES: Rain and darkness.

COLLINS: And we're looking at a lot of that right there.

Let's move on, if we could, Anderson. "Love Actually." This has just a blockbuster cast, doesn't it?

JONES: Oh, the cast, please. It's everyone from Hugh Grant to Billy Bob Thornton to Emma Thompson to Liam Neeson. I mean, the cast goes on and on and on.

This is a movie, as you know, from Richard Curtis (ph), who wrote "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Notting Hill," which is one of my favorites. This is the first movie actually he's written and directed.

There are many characters, about 20 different characters, who all have love lifes that sort of intersect. And if you've ever been in love, if you've been lovesick, if you had unrequited love, which is I'm an expert at, this movie is going to resonate with you.

It is very sweet and sappy. And, you know, some people will hate it for that. But I have to say, give me that cavity, I'll take it, bring it on, I dare you.

COLLINS: So quick...

JONES: You have to have a heart of stone to walk out of this movie without being moved.

COLLINS: Oh, boy. So not just a chick flick. I mean, this might be a date movie, huh?

JONES: I think it's a really good date movie. You know, guys know what love, being lovesick is about, and there are a lot of guys in this movie who are just as lovesick and don't always get the girl, as ultimately we guys do in real life.

COLLINS: All right, Anderson Jones, we appreciate your time this morning, giving (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

JONES: It's my pleasure. Thank you for having me.

COLLINS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) a few movies. You bet. Of course, another one that's out there, "Master and Commander," but we'll have to let folks decide on that one on their own.

JONES: Well, it's fantastic, I can say that much.

COLLINS: Really? All right. Well, we'll talk about that one...

JONES: Yes, it's really spectacular.

COLLINS: ... next time around, hopefully.

JONES: I would love it.

COLLINS: Anderson, thanks again. Have a great day.

JONES: Sure thing. You too.

COLLINS: He leaves us with that tease. I'm still stuck on that elf life, "You sit on a throne of lies." It's very effective.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com